Shade



July 11, 1939. "W ADE 2,166,669

' SHADE Filed Aug. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 11, 1939UNITED STATES SHADE William Wade, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 27,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to shades for windows and the like and has for itsobject the provision of a shade composed of a preselected number ofsections independently and removably secured in place so as to permitthe respective shade sections to tilt about horizontally disposed axes;the mounting of the respective sections involving means whereby saidtilting action is not only made possible but the respective shadesections made to tilt in unison about the horizontally disand a maximumspaced relation between the shade sections maintained, while alsopermitting vertical movement of all the sections toward the top ortoward the lower part of the window frame.

The invention involves spective shade sections,

made of rigid material, may be independently removed and replacedwithout in any way dismounting or interfering with the shade mountingmechanism or elements.

The invention, its purposes and advantages will all be readilycomprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates, in elevation, the applicationof my improved shadeto with intermediate portions of and shade broken away.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure Figure 4isa sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 as viewed by thearrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 ofFigure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view shade section holding clips.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an end portion of a shade strip.

Figure 8 is a holding element.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one end of the bottom strip or rail ofthe shade and its holding clip.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the cross-arms employed inconjunction with each strip.

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of the trunnion members for thecrossbar.

the window frame of one of the perspective view of the clip a windowopening 1937, Serial No. 161,290 (Cl. 156'l7) My invention contemplatesthe provision of suitable housings or channels adapted to be secured tothe sides of the window-frame on the room side of the window-sash and toextend throughout the heighth of the window. In order 5 to enable easyapplication to window-frames the housings in the particularexemplification of the invention are shown consisting of metallic strips2|, 2| of angle formation in cross section, see Flgure'5, with attachingflanges or lobes whereby 10 the respective strips may be secured to thewindew-frame as indicated at 22 in Figure 5. These strips are secured tothe window frame to provide a vertical slotway 23, at each side of thewindow, extending substantially throughout the 15 heighth of thewindow-frame for the purpose of receiving one of the reduced ends of thetrunnion members 24 shown in detail inFigure 11. The body portions ofthe trunnion members 24 the trunnions and the cross-bars to rotatetogether; the inner end of the trunnion member "being secured in theopening 26 of the crossebar 25. This operative relation betweencross-bars 30 and trunnions may be accomplished either by threading thereduced ends of the trunnions and providing the cross-bars with tappedopenings, or thereduce'd ends of the trunnions may be forced intoopenings in the cross-bars.

The outer reduced end of each trunnion member 24, namely the end whichextends through the slotway 23, is intended to operatively fit into anaperture 21 formed in the side of a clip-holding element 28, shown indetail in Figure 8; the 0 relation between the trunnions and the clipholding elements 28 also being such that the trunnions and clip-holdingelements will oscillate or rotate together.

It will be understood that a similar clip element 28 is secured to eachtrunnion and therefore a clip element 28 will be arranged in eachchannel at opposite sides of the window-opening.

The clip holding elements 28 are slotted at 29 These clip elementspreferably each consist of I sheet metal folded upon itself lengthwiseto proenable the trunnions pletely slide onto or telescope with theholding element 28, the rear or closed longitudinal side of the clip 38,at one end, is slotted at 34 a distance commensurate with the non-slitportionor solid end 35 of the clip-holding element 28. The forward oropen ends of the jaws of clip 38 are also preferably formed to provide asocket or longitudinal channel 38 intended to receive the rolled orbeaded portion'3l of the shade strip 38, see Figure 7.

The shade strip 38 may be made of'opaque shade cloth or any suitablefabric, and in order to obtain a suitable bead to ensure proper'grippingon the part of the clips 38, the immediate ends of the strips of shadematerial may be provided with thin metallic U-shape binding strip 38,see Figure '7. After the ends of the strips of shade cloth have beenprovided with the binding strip 39, the ends with the binding strips arerolled upon themselves, as shown in Figure '7, to provide'the beadedportion 38; the insertion being made from one end of the clip to allowthe shade strip 38 to extend through the open jaws of the clip member38, as shown in Figure 5.

After each end of the shade strip 38 has been beaded as heretoforedescribed and the head inserted into a clip 30, the clips are theninserted onto the prongs 33 of the holding members at opposite sides ofthe window openingrthe insertion of the clips being made with the slot34 of each clip disposed toward the clip-holding element 28. Theshade-strips, which initially are of length approximating the distancebetween the clip-holding elements 28 at opposite sides of the windowopening, will be firmly and at the same time removably held in place; orsections being so held that they may be separately removed and replaced.

In order to maintain the shade-strips taut and also to frictionally holdeach clip-holding element in its adjusted positions, the trunnions 24located within the housings or channels, formed by angle strips 2|, 2|at opposite sides of the window, are provided with suitable tensionproducing elements which may be in the nature of the coil springs 40arranged around the trunnions 24, as shown in Figure 5; or any othersuitable method may be employed for placing the clip holding membersunder tension and provide holding relation with the inside of the strips2| of the housings. To

reduced ends of the trunnion members 24 are shown provided with washers4|, the one bearing against the cross-bar 25 and the other bearingagainst the innersides of the supporting frame members 2|, 2| whichconstitute the housing or channel. It is apparent that the springs atopposite ends of each shade-strip or section tend to pull the holdingmembers 28 toward opposite sides of the window-frame and hence willmaintain the shade-strips taut and will also frictionally hold themembers 28 with the shade-strips or sections in their adjustedpositions. I

The cross-bars 25, at their ends, are shown provided with suitableopenings 42, 42 intended to receive pins 43, 43 to which suitable chains44 are attached; the chain-links being such that free rotative movementbetween the pins and the strips or sections to be t 31 which is theninserted endwisely into the groove 38 of each clip the shade-strips tobe easily rotated,-the

chains is possible. The chains 44 may be con tinuous from top-to bottomwith correspondingly spaced links thereof secured to the pins 43 of therespective cross-bars or arms so that the respective cross-arms andassociated elements, together with the shade-strips, may be equallyspaced apart vertically commensurate with the width of the shade strips38 so as to permit the shadetilted into substantially slight lappingrelation with desired to make a complete vertical position and eachother when it is closure of the shade.

One of the shade-sections, preferably the bottom section 45, is made ofrigid material such as wood. This section or heavy slat 45 is alsoremovably held at its ends by clip members 48, one at each end. Thesemembers 48 each have a projection or joural 41 (which may be similar tojournal or trunnion members 24) which extends through the'slotqway 23into the housing, with the inner end'provided with an enlargement orwasher 4 like in the previously described trunnions and a washer 4|adjacent the housing forming strips 2|, 2|, posed about the trunnion orjournal 41 and between the washers 4| 4|, so as to induce frictional thebottom section or with a coil spring 48 dis-.

their respective members 28 with attached shadestrips 38 to be likewiserotated or tilted.

The operation of the sectional shade is entirely accomplished throughmanipulation of the bottom rail or master strip 45; the tilted positionof the respective sections bein maintained by the pressure of thesprings as heretofore described.

When it is desired to raise the shade, the operator grasps the bottomrail and turns it into horizontal position which likewise positions thev upper shade-sections and the cross arms. The bottom rail is thenforced upwardly causing its trunnions to slide upwardly in the slotways23 of the housings, causing the succeeding shadestrips or sections topile up on the bottom rail or master strip 45. The various shade-stripsor sections are all returned to their normal positions and spacing bypulling the master strip or bottom rail downwardly until the slack inthe chains or flexible element is taken up.

What I claim is:

1. A shade of the character described comprising a plurality ofshade-strips of preselected length and width and having beaded ends;shade-strip holding and controlling mechanism composed of a portion,provided with an openended slotway adapted'to edgewisely receive thebeaded ends of the shade-strips and a second portion involvinghorizontally disposed trunnions with laterally disposed arms securedthereto; supporting frames adapted to be secured to the side frames of awindow to provide a housing for said second portionof the mechanism andhaving vertically disposed slots adapted'to receive the trunnions ofsaid mechanism; and means associated with said arms whereby all of themechanisms located at the same side of the window are yieldinglyconnected together to cause simultaneous rotation of all of theshade-strips.

2. A shade of the character described comprising supporting membersadapted to be secured to the sides of the window-frame to provide avertical slotway at each side of the window; a plurality of holdingmembers provided with laterally disposed trunnions extending into theslotways; a plurality of shade-strips of predeter-Y mined width; clipmembers removably secured to the holding members and adapted toedgewisely receive the ends of the shade-strips and thereby eifectinterenga-ging relation therewith; means whereby the holding members areyieldingly held in frictional relation with said supporting members andthe shade-strips thereby held taut; and means involving a yieldingelement operatively associated with the trunnions of the holding memberswhereby all of said members may be tilted in unison.

3. A shade of the character described com.' prising supporting membersadapted to be secured to the sides of a windowframe to providevertically disposed slotways; a plurality of shadestrips and a bottomrail all of predetermined width; holding members provided with trunnionsrotatably and slidably arranged in said slideways; yielding meanswhereby the holding members are frictionally held in their adjustedpositions; clip members adapted to receive the ends of the shade-stripsand of the bottommail and to slidingly engage the vholding members; andyielding means arranged in said slideways and connected with the holdingmembers whereby rotative movement of said bottom rail will cause similarrotative movement of all of the shade-strips.

4. A shade of the character described comprising supporting membersadapted to be secured to the sides or a window-frame to providevertically disposed slideways; a plurality of shade-strips of flexiblematerial and a rigid bottom rail, the strips and the bottom rail beingof predetermined width; holding members provided with trunnionsrotatably and slidably arranged in the slideways; springs disposed aboutthe trunnions whereby the holding members are drawn toward the slidewaysand said holding members frictionally held in clips for gripping theends or the shade-strips and adapted to slide onto the holding membersand to move therewith; a rigid bottom rail removably secured to thelowermost pair 01 holdingmembers; and chains arranged in the slidewaysand operatively associated with the trunnions of all of the holdingmembers whereby the adjusted positions;

maximum spaced relation between the holding members is determined andtilting of the bottom rail induce similar tilting of the shade-strips.

5. A shade of the character described comprising a plurality ofshade-strips of preselected length and width, the opposite ends of thestrips being formed to provide relatively thicker or beaded ends; clipmembers transversely slotted from end to end to edgewisely receive thebeaded ends of the shade-strips and permit the shadestrips independentlyto be edgewisely slid out of holding engagement with the clips; the clipmembers being provided with trunnion forming portions provided withlaterally disposed extensions; control elements connected with saidlaterally disposed extensions whereby tilting of one shadestrip willinduce a similar tilt of all of the shadestrips; and means whereby theclips with the shade strips are placed under tension and frictionallyheld in their adjusted positions.

6. A shade of the character describedcomprising, in combination withchannel forming members adapted to be secured to the side rails ofatVindow-frame; said members being formed to provide vertically disposedslots; a plurality of shade-strips having enlarged or beaded ends; clipmembers each formed to provide a transverse slot adapted to edgewiselyand slidably receive the enlarged or beaded end of the shadestrip, therear longitudinal edge of the clip member being provided with a trunniondisposed through said vertical slot into the channel formed by saidchannel forming members, the inner end of said trunnion having laterallydisposed arms; means operatively associated with the trunnion and saidarms whereby the clip member is frictionally held in its adjustedposition and the shade-strip held taut.

7. In a shade of the character described, a plurality of shade-strips oipreselected length and width, the ends whereot are provided with bindingstrips; clip members open at one longitudinal side and at an end toedzewisely receive the ends of theshade-strips with said binding stripsto eifect holding relation positions.

' WILLIAM WADE.

therewith, while the other longitudinal side of each clip member isprovided

